Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Dudley vs Ware vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Berkley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashburnham | Dudley | Ware | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Ashburnham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #178 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.